Types Of Full Moons Types Of Full Moons Wall of Shame Types of Moons Full Moon names date back to Native Americans, of what is now the northern and eastern United States. The tribes kept track of the seasons by giving distinctive names to each recurring full Moon. Their names were applied to the entire month in which each occurred. There was some variation in the Moon names, but in general, the same ones were current throughout the Algonquin tribes from New England to Lake Superior. European settlers followed that custom and created some of their own names. Since the lunar month is only 29 days long on the average, the full Moon dates shift from year to year. January - The Wolf Moon - The Old Moon - The Moon after Yule Named the wolf moon for the wolves that stalked early Indian villages looking for food during the winter months. February - The Snow Moon - The Quickening Moon - The Hunger Moon Named the snow moon due to the fact that the heaviest snow fall often falls during this month. Also called the hunger moon because food was often scarce during this time. Called the Quickening moon to acknowledge that the worse of winter has passed and soon, the growing cycle will begin.

March - The Worm Moon - The Storm Moon - The Crow Moon - The Crust Moon - The Sap Moon - The Lenten Moon Named the worm moon because during the month of march, earthworm casts appear signifying the return of the birds. Named the storm moon for the rains that nourish the soil and awaken life. Called the crow moon to recognize the cawing of the crows which signified the end of winter. It was also called the crust moon because the snow cover becomes crusted from thawing by day and freezing at night. The Full Sap Moon, marked the time of tapping maple trees. To the settlers, it was also known as the Lenten Moon, and was considered to be the last full Moon of winter. April - The Wind Moon - The Pink Moon -The Sprouting Grass Moon - The Egg Moon - The Fish Moon Called the wind moon to signify the winds that carry the seeds. The pink moon was called such to acknowledge herb moss pink, or wild ground phlox, which is one of the earliest widespread flowers of the spring. The egg moon & fish moon names were used to acknowledge the spawning of fish. May - The Flower Moon - Corn Planting Moon In most areas, flowers are abundant everywhere during this time.

Thus, the name of this Moon. June - The Strawberry Moon - Strong Sun Moon Dubbed the strawberry moon because the relatively short season for harvesting strawberries comes each year during the month of June. Called the strong sun moon to acknowledge the warmth of the sun that not only aids in the growing process, but also to signify relaxation. The seeds are sewn, the flowers are open, fruit is not yet ready to harvest. This time brings a natural lull in farming. July - The Buck Moon - The Thunder Moon - Hay Moon July was called the buck moon because during this month is when you see the antlers of the deer push out from their foreheads. Thunder Moon signified the sometimes violent thunderstorms during the month of July. The Hay Moon name was given because this is the time to start haying the fields. August - Full Sturgeon Moon - The Red Moon - Grain Moon - Corn Moon The fishing tribes are given credit for the naming of this Moon, since sturgeon, a large fish of the Great Lakes and other major bodies of water, were most readily caught during this month. A few tribes knew it as the Full Red Moon because, as the Moon rises, it appears reddish through any sultry haze.

It was also called the Green Corn Moon or Grain Moon as this is the time to start the harvest. September - Harvest Moon - Corn Moon Called such as this is the month that harvesting is in full swing. October - Harvest Moon - Blood Moon This is the full Moon that occurs closest to the autumn equinox. In two years out of three, the Harvest Moon comes in September, but in some years it occurs in October. At the peak of harvest, farmers can work late into the night by the light of this Moon. Usually the full Moon rises an average of 50 minutes later each night, but for the few nights around the Harvest Moon, the Moon seems to rise at nearly the same time each night: just 25 to 30 minutes later across the U.S., and only 10 to 20 minutes later for much of Canada and Europe. Also called the blood moon as this is the time that animals are slaughtered, their hides tanned, and meat stored. November - Beaver Moon - Frost Moon - Snow Moon This was the time to set beaver traps before the swamps froze, to ensure a supply of warm winter furs.

Another interpretation suggests that the name Full Beaver Moon comes from the fact that the beavers are now actively preparing for winter. Also called the Frost or Snow Moon as during this time, the sun wanes and growth slows. It is the beginning of Winter. December - The Full Cold Moon - Long Nights Moon During this month the winter cold fastens its grip, and nights are at their longest and darkest. The term Long Night Moon is a doubly appropriate name because the midwinter night is indeed long, and because the Moon is above the horizon for a long time. The midwinter full Moon has a high trajectory across the sky because it is opposite a low Sun.  Monday night's 'Harvest Moon' was full, blood red and big | abc30.com kfsn Sunday, September 27, 2015 Living up to many's expectation's, last night's moon appeared much bigger, brighter and blood red as it hung low on the horizon just after sunset. The 2014 Harvest Moon, which happened Monday night, is an annual occurrence near the fall equinox in which a full moon appears much larger in the sky, and typically shows hues of red, orange and yellow.

What made this Harvest Moon special is that it occurred while the moon is in 'supermoon,' which made it appear even larger. The crest of the moon's full phase, depending on your time zone in North America, was seen at: 9:38 P.M. EDT 7:38 P.M. MDT 6:38 P.M. PDT. The Harvest Moon is the last full moon closest to the autumnal equinox, where the moon tends to hang low on the horizon, giving it a reddish hue. Because it sets so low on the horizon, it creates a 'moon illusion' where the moon appears much larger in size, and appears much brighter. Historically, farmers depended on Harvest Moonlight to help them work after daytime when trying to harvest quickly before the autumn. What makes this Harvest Moon qualify as a supermoon is that it turned 'full' less than one day after reaching its lunar perigee: the moon's closest point to the Earth. So, it appeared even bigger than the already bigger-than-normal Harvest Moon. That's a very big, very red moon.

While the Harvest Moon is an annual occurrence, and supermoons happen sporadically through the year, it's a very rare case that a Harvest Moon is also classified as a supermoon. Fortunately for North America, we were able to see this cosmic coincidence much more clearly in the night sky, while much of the Eastern world only saw it during the day. NASA explains the Harvest Moon in great detail in the video below. Did you go out and watch the moon last night? Let us know in the comments below. Related Topics: 2016's close and large Harvest Moon | Astronomy Essentials | EarthSky EarthSky’s 2017 lunar calendars are almost here! Harvest Moon sunset and moonrise – September 19, 2013 – as seen by EarthSky Facebook friend Andy Somers in Noumea, New Caledonia. One of the characteristics of the Harvest Moon is that it rises around the time of sunset for several evenings in a row. Thank you, Andy. What is a Harvest Moon? In skylore, the Harvest Moon is the full moon closest to the autumn equinox. Depending on the year, the Harvest Moon can come anywhere from two weeks before to two weeks after the autumn equinox.

Harvest Moon is just a name. But this full moon has special characteristics, related to the time of moonrise. Nature is particularly cooperative in giving us full-looking moons near the horizon after sunset, for several evenings in a row, around the time of the Harvest Moon. Here’s what happens. On average, the moon rises about 50 minutes later each day. But when a full moon happens close to the autumn equinox, the moon (at mid-temperate latitudes) rises only about 30 to 35 minutes later daily for several days before and after the full Harvest moon. It happens because the ecliptic – or the moon’s orbital path – makes a narrow angle with the evening horizon near the autumn equinox. The difference between 50 minutes and 35 minutes may not seem like much. But it means that, in the nights after the full Harvest Moon, at northerly latitudes, you’ll see the moon ascending in the east relatively soon after sunset. The moon will rise during or near twilight on these nights … making it seem as if there are several full moons – for a few nights in a row – around the time of the Harvest Moon.

In autumn, the angle of the ecliptic – or sun and moon’s path – makes a narrow angle with the horizon. Image via classicalastronomy.com. The narrow angle of the ecliptic means the moon rises noticeably farther north on the horizon, from one night to the next. So there is no long period of darkness between sunset and moonrise. Image via classicalastronomy.com. Amy Simpson-Wynne in Virginia posted this beautiful twilight photo of the Harvest Moon in 2013. Thank you, Amy! Best photos of past Harvest Moons . Is the Harvest Moon bigger, or brighter or more colorful? Not necessarily. It’s different every year. But the 2016 Harvest moon does count as a bigger-than-average full moon. That’s because this full moon is near perigee, the closest point to Earth in its monthly orbit. This full moon comes on September 16 at 1905 UTC; translate to your time zone . Perigee comes on September 18 around 1700 UTC . So it’s not the biggest possible moon on our sky’s dome, but it’s slightly bigger than usual.

Still, in any year, you might think the Harvest Moon looks bigger or brighter or more orange. That’s because the Harvest Moon has such a powerful mystique. Many people look for it shortly after sunset around the time of full moon. After sunset around any full moon, the moon will always be near the horizon. It’ll just have risen. It’s the location of the moon near the horizon that causes the Harvest Moon – or any full moon – to look big and orange in color. The orange color of a moon near the horizon is a true physical effect. It stems from the fact that – when you look toward the horizon – you are looking through a greater thickness of Earth’s atmosphere than when you gaze up and overhead. The atmosphere scatters blue light – that’s why the sky looks blue. The greater thickness of atmosphere in the direction of a horizon scatters blue light most effectively, but it lets red light pass through to your eyes. So a moon near the horizon takes on a yellow or orange or reddish hue. The bigger-than-usual size of a moon seen near the horizon is something else entirely. It’s a trick that your eyes are playing – an illusion – called the Moon Illusion.

You can find many lengthy explanations of the Moon Illusion by googling those words yourself. Is this Harvest Moon a supermoon ? That depends on your definition of supermoon. Read about the disagreement on whether the 2016 Harvest Moon is a supermoon, here . Day and night sides of Earth at the instant of full moon (2016 September 19 at 19:05 Universal Time) via Earth and Moon Viewer . Which night is the 2016 Harvest Moon for me? The full Harvest Moon for 2016 falls on September 16 or September 17, depending on your location on the globe. It happens on September 16 at 1905 UTC . In North America, the crest of the moon’s full phase comes on September 16, at 3:05 p.m. EDT, 2:05 p.m CDT, 1:05 p.m. MDT or 12:05 p.m. PDT.

Although the full moon happens during the daylight hours for the Americas, and is still below the horizon at this full moon instant, we can still say the Harvest Moon comes on the night of September 16-17. But the moon might look equally full to your eye on the night of September 15-16, or the night of September 17-18. Meanwhile, in the world’s Eastern Hemisphere – Africa, Europe and Asia, Indonesia and Australia – the moon is above the horizon at the instant the moon turns full at 1905 UTC . The Mid-Autumn Festival in Asia is linked to this full moon. No matter where you are on Earth, a brilliant full-looking moon ascends over your eastern horizon around the time of sunset on September 16. It climbs highest in the sky around the middle of the night, when the sun is below your feet. That’s because the moon lies opposite the sun in our sky at the vicinity of full moon. Being opposite the sun, the moon is showing us its fully lighted hemisphere, or “day” side. That’s what makes the moon look full. Who can see the Harvest Moon penumbral eclipse?

The moon will reach the crest of its full phase on September 16 at 19:05 Universal Time , to undergo a faint penumbral eclipse in the world’s Eastern Hemisphere . For us in North America, though, the moon will be beneath our horizon as it turns exactly full during our daylight hours, so we will miss out on the September 16 penumbral lunar eclipse. See the worldwide map below, and read more about this eclipse at EclipseWise . View larger . The subtle penumbral lunar eclipse on September 16, 2016 is not visible from North America. Although the moon sweeps through the Earth’s penumbral (light) shadow from 16:55 to 20:54 Universal Time , your best bet for actually witnessing this faint penumbral lunar eclipse is around mid-eclipse, which takes place at 18:54 UT. Harvest Moon over the Santa Catalina Mountains of southern Arizona, via Randall Kayfes. How did the Harvest Moon get its name? The shorter-than-usual lag time between moonrises around the full Harvest Moon means no long period of darkness between sunset and moonrise for days in succession.

In the days before tractor lights, the lamp of the Harvest Moon helped farmers to gather their crops, despite the diminishing daylight hours. As the sun’s light faded in the west, the moon would soon rise in the east to illuminate the fields throughout the night. Who named the Harvest Moon? That name probably sprang to the lips of farmers throughout the Northern Hemisphere, on autumn evenings, as the Harvest Moon aided in bringing in the crops. The name was popularized in the early 20th century by the song below. Shine On Harvest Moon By Nora Bayes and Jack Norworth (1903) Shine on, shine on harvest moon Up in the sky, I ain’t had no lovin’ Since January, February, June or July Snow time ain’t no time to stay Outdoors and spoon, So shine on, shine on harvest moon, For me and my gal. And don’t miss this more recent version of the song by Leon Redbone. When is the Southern Hemisphere’s Harvest Moon? For the Southern Hemisphere, the autumn equinox falls in March. So the Southern Hemisphere always has a full moon with these same characteristics – rising shortly after sunset for several nights in a row – in March or April.

What are some other full moon names? Every full moon has a name. The names vary in cultures around the world, and they particularly vary between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. One of the most famous full moon names – other than Harvest Moon – is Hunter’s Moon. That’s the name for the full moon after the Harvest Moon. For the Northern Hemisphere, this year’s Hunter’s Moon comes on October 16. Read more about full moon names here. Bottom line: Here in the Northern Hemisphere, we call the closest full moon to the autumn equinox the Harvest Moon. In 2016, the September equinox comes on September 22. So this hemisphere’s Harvest Moon is the full moon of September 16. Full Moon names To keep track of the days, different cultures gave the Full Moon of each month specific names. Here are some commonly used Full Moon names in North American culture: January - Wolf Moon Also known as the Moon after Yule, Old Moon or Snow Moon, the Full moon in January was named after howling wolves. Blue Moon is a Full Moon with no name February - Snow Moon February ’s Full Moon was dedicated to the snowy conditions that marked the month.

It was also sometimes called the full hunger moon by North American tribes who would find their food sources depleted due to the winter. March - Worm Moon The last Full Moon of the winter season in March , is also known as the Lenten Moon, the Crow Moon to signify the crows that appear at the end of winter, and Sap Moon to mark the time for harvesting maple syrup from maple tree saps. It is also known as the Worm Moon because of the earthworms that come out at the end of winter and herald the coming of spring. April - Pink Moon The first Full Moon in April is sometimes called the Paschal Moon in the ecclesiastical calendar because it is used to calcualate the date for Easter - the first Sunday after the Paschal Moon is Easter . The name Pink Moon comes from the pink flowers – phlox – that grow in many places at the beginning of spring. Other names for this full moon include Sprouting Grass Moon, Egg Moon and Fish Moon. May - Flower Moon The May Full Moon is known as Flower Moon to signify the flowers that bloom during this month. Other names for the Full Moon are Milk Moon and Corn Planting Moon.

June - Strawberry Moon June ’s Full Moon is named after strawberries that become plentiful during this month. July - Buck Moon The Full Moon for the month of July is called Buck Moon to signify the new antlers that emerge from Buck Deers' foreheads around this time if the year. This Full Moon is also known as Thunder Moon or Hay Moon. August - Sturgeon Moon The Full Moon for August is called Sturgeon Moon because of the large number of fish that can be easily found in the lakes in North America. Other names for this Full Moon include Green Corn Moon or Grain Moon. September - Harvest Moon September ’sFull Moon is called Harvest Moon because farmers tend to harvest their crops around the full Moon. October - Hunter's Moon or Blood Moon Traditionally, tribes spent the month of October preparing for the coming winter. This included hunting, slaughtering and preserving meats for use as food. This led to October’s Full Moon being called the Hunter’s Moon and sometimes Blood Moon or Sanguine Moon. However, this should not be confused with a Total Lunar Eclipse - Blood Moon November - Beaver Moon According to folklore, the Full Moon for November is named after Beavers who become active while preparing for the winter.

December - Cold Moon December is the month when winter begins for most of the Northern Hemisphere, hence, its Full Moon is called the Cold Moon. Full Moon Names Full Moon Names | Native American Moon Names | Old Farmer's Almanac Rate this Article: Average: 3.7 (329 votes) Native Americans’ Full Moon names were created to help different tribes track the seasons. Think of it as a “nickname” for the Moon! See our list of other full Moon names for each month of the year and their meanings. The full Moon for December is called the Full Cold Moon because the temperatures dive and winter soon fastens its grip. In 2016, the Full Cold Moon rises on Tuesday, December 13, and it will be the brightest Moon of the year, and also the highest up Moon at Midnight. Not only does December 13 bring the Full Moon, but also it’s the peak of the Geminid Meteor Showers, traditionally the best “shooting stars” of the entire year. The Geminids will be overwhelmed by the Moon, but you should still be able to catch some meteors if you look in part of the night sky that’s furthest from the Moon.

The name, “Full Cold Moon” was used by Native American tribes as well as the early colonists. Read more about the full Moon Names below. Why Native Americans Named the Moons The early Native Americans did not record time by using the months of the Julian or Gregorian calendar. Many tribes kept track of time by observing the seasons and lunar months, although there was much variability. For some tribes, the year contained 4 seasons and started at a certain season, such as spring or fall. Others counted 5 seasons to a year. Some tribes defined a year as 12 Moons, while others assigned it 13. Certain tribes that used the lunar calendar added an extra Moon every few years, to keep it in sync with the seasons. Each tribe that did name the full Moons (and/or lunar months) had its own naming preferences. Some would use 12 names for the year while others might use 5, 6, or 7; also, certain names might change the next year. A full Moon name used by one tribe might differ from one used by another tribe for the same time period, or be the same name but represent a different time period.

The name itself was often a description relating to a particular activity/event that usually occurred during that time in their location. Colonial Americans adopted some of the Native American full Moon names and applied them to their own calendar system (primarily Julian, and later, Gregorian). Since the Gregorian calendar is the system that many in North America use today, that is how we have presented the list of Moon names, as a frame of reference. The Native American names have been listed by the month in the Gregorian calendar to which they are most closely associated. Native American Full Moon Names and Their Meanings The Full Moon Names we use in the Almanac come from the Algonquin tribes who lived in regions from New England to Lake Superior. They are the names the Colonial Americans adapted most. Note that each full Moon name was applied to the entire lunar month in which it occurred. Link on the names below for your monthly Full Moon Guide! Month Moon Phases / Lunar Phases Explained Moon Posters Understanding The Moon Phases Have you ever wondered what causes the moon phases? We all know that its appearance changes over time. But why?

The good way to understand the phases of the moon is to examine an earth-moon-sun diagram: ©MoonConnection.com All Rights Reserved. This moon phases diagram is NOT public domain and may not be used on websites, copied, printed or republished except by permission. Please contact me for high resolution version available for small license fee. Diagram Explanation The illustration may look a little complex at first, but it's easy to explain. Sunlight is shown coming in from the right. The earth, of course, is at the center of the diagram. The moon is shown at 8 key stages during its revolution around the earth. The moon phase name is shown alongside the image. The dotted line from the earth to the moon represents your line of sight when looking at the moon. The large moon image shows what you would see at that point in the cycle. For the waning gibbous, third quarter, and waning crescent phases you have to mentally turn yourself upside down when imagining the line of sight. When you do this, you'll "see" that the illuminated portion is on your left, just as you see in the large image. One important thing to notice is that exactly one half of the moon is always illuminated by the sun.

Of course that is perfectly logical, but you need to visualize it in order to understand the phases. At certain times we see both the sunlit portion and the shadowed portion -- and that creates the various moon phase shapes we are all familiar with. Also note that the shadowed part of the moon is invisible to the naked eye; in the diagram above, it is only shown for clarification purposes. Finally, please realize this diagram is only meant to demonstrate how the phases work; the small inner moons in the diagram do not show the fact that the same side of the moon always faces Earth. So the basic explanation is that the lunar phases are created by changing angles (relative positions) of the earth, the moon and the sun, as the moon orbits the earth. If you'd like to examine the phases of the moon more closely, via computer software, you may be interested in this moon phases calendar software . Moon Phases Simplified It's probably easiest to understand the moon cycle in this order: new moon and full moon, first quarter and third quarter, and the phases in between. As shown in the above diagram, the new moon occurs when the moon is positioned between the earth and sun.

The three objects are in approximate alignment (why "approximate" is explained below). The entire illuminated portion of the moon is on the back side of the moon, the half that we cannot see. At a full moon, the earth, moon, and sun are in approximate alignment, just as the new moon, but the moon is on the opposite side of the earth, so the entire sunlit part of the moon is facing us. The shadowed portion is entirely hidden from view. The first quarter and third quarter moons (both often called a "half moon"), happen when the moon is at a 90 degree angle with respect to the earth and sun. So we are seeing exactly half of the moon illuminated and half in shadow. Once you understand those four key moon phases, the phases between should be fairly easy to visualize, as the illuminated portion gradually transitions between them. An easy way to remember and understand those "between" lunar phase names is by breaking out and defining 4 words: crescent, gibbous, waxing, and waning. The word crescent refers to the phases where the moon is less than half illuminated. The word gibbous refers to phases where the moon is more than half illuminated.

Waxing essentially means "growing" or expanding in illumination, and waning means "shrinking" or decreasing in illumination. Thus you can simply combine the two words to create the phase name, as follows: After the new moon, the sunlit portion is increasing, but less than half, so it is waxing crescent. After the first quarter, the sunlit portion is still increasing, but now it is more than half, so it is waxing gibbous. After the full moon (maximum illumination), the light continually decreases. So the waning gibbous phase occurs next. Following the third quarter is the waning crescent, which wanes until the light is completely gone -- a new moon. The Moon's Orbit You may have personally observed that the moon goes through a complete moon phases cycle in about one month. That's true, but it's not exactly one month. The synodic period or lunation is exactly 29.5305882 days. It's the time required for the moon to move to the same position (same phase) as seen by an observer on earth.

If you were to view the moon cycling the earth from outside our solar system (the viewpoint of the stars), the time required is 27.3217 days, roughly two days less. This figure is called the sidereal period or orbital period. Why is the synodic period different from the sidereal period? The short answer is because on earth, we are viewing the moon from a moving platform: during the moon cycle, the earth has moved approximately one month along its year-long orbit around the sun, altering our angle of view with respect to the moon, and thus altering the phase. The earth's orbital direction is such that it lengthens the period for earthbound observers. Although the synodic and sidereal periods are exact numbers, the moon phase can't be precisely calculated by simple division of days because the moon's motion (orbital speed and position) is affected and perturbed by various forces of different strengths. Hence, complex equations are used to determine the exact position and phase of the moon at any given point in time.

Also, looking at the diagram (and imagining it to scale), you may have wondered why, at a new moon, the moon doesn't block the sun, and at a full moon, why the earth doesn't block sunlight from reaching the moon. The reason is because the moon's orbit about the earth is about 5 degrees off from the earth-sun orbital plane. However, at special times during the year, the earth, moon, and sun do in fact "line up". When the moon blocks the sun or a part of it, it's called a solar eclipse, and it can only happen during the new moon phase. When the earth casts a shadow on the moon, it's called a lunar eclipse, and can only happen during the full moon phase. Roughly 4 to 7 eclipses happen in any given year, but most of them minor or "partial" eclipses. Major lunar or solar eclipses are relatively uncommon. Moon Software If you want to follow the phases of the moon, you should definitely take a look at QuickPhase Pro , our flagship moon software product for your personal computer. This attractive and fun software covers thousands of years of past and future moon phases and is easy to use.

The names of the Moons The Names of the Moons. Old almanacs in England used a series of poetic names to refer to each moon of the year. This began with the "Moon after Yule", the name given to the first full moon after the winter solstice, and finished with the "Moon before Yule", the last full moon before the following winter solstice. There are twelve full moons in most years, which means that three full moons occur during most seasons. One season in ten, however, contains four full moons; the third moon that occurs in such a season is called a "blue moon" (I note that this is not the only definition of the term "blue moon" that is now in common use). The final quarter of 2010 is an example of a season that contains a blue moon, as the term is used in this article. The ninth full moon of that year follows the autumn equinox by a little more than six hours; it is the first full moon following the autumn equinox, so it is termed the "Harvest Moon" of 2010.

The twelfth full moon precedes the winter solstice by just over 15 hours, so it is unavoidably termed the "Moon Before Yule". The close proximity of the times of the ninth and the twelfth full moons of 2010 to the times of the equinox and solstice, respectively, leaves room in the season for an 'extra' moon. This is the "Blue Moon" that falls on November 21st. The names of the moons, and the dates on which they are full, appear below for the years 2004 , 2005 , 2006 , 2007 , 2008 , 2009 , 2010 , 2011 , 2012 , 2013 , 2014 , 2015 , 2016 . All times are expressed as Universal Time (UT). This article presents only one set of lunar names: those which were popular in England between the 17th and 19th centuries. Other systems have been in use at other times and in other parts of the world.

Source of times of all phenomena during 2004 to 2016: The Astronomical Almanac (London, The Stationery Office ). Source of times of all phenomena during 2017: XEphem version 3.7 (Elwood Downey, Clear Sky Institute, Inc., 2005). Full Moon Names and Meanings Moon Posters Full Moon Names and Meanings Many human cultures have given names to the full moon throughout the year. Different full moon names can be found among the Chinese, Celtic, Old English, and New Guinea cultures, to name a few. In addition, Native American tribes often used moon phases and cycles to keep track of the seasons and gave a unique name to each recurring full moon. The full moon names were used to identify the entire month during which each occurred. Although many Native American Tribes gave distinct names to the full moon, the most well known names of the full moon come from the Algonquin tribes who lived in the area of New England and westward to Lake Superior. The Algonquin tribes had perhaps the greatest effect on the early European settlers in America, and the settlers adopted the Native American habit of naming the moons.

They even invented some of their own names that have been passed down through time. The names given below aren't the only ones that have been used. Every full moon, with one exception, had variations on its name among various Algonquin tribes, not to mention other tribes throughout North America. But the names below are the most common. Some of the variations are also mentioned. January: The Wolf Moon In January snow gathers deep in the woods and the howling of wolves can be heard echoing in the cold still air. Some tribes called this moon the Snow Moon, but most often it was used for the next month. February: The Snow Moon Snow piles even higher in February, giving this moon its most common name. Among tribes that used this name for the January moon, the February moon was called the Hunger Moon due to the challenging hunting conditions. March: The Worm Moon Snow slowly begins to melt, the ground softens, and earthworms show their heads again and their castings or fecal matter can be found.

Other signs of spring gave rise to other variations: the cawing of crows (the Crow Moon); the formation of crusts on the snow from repeated thawing and freezing (the Crust Moon); and the time for tapping maple trees (the Sap Moon). Christian settlers also called this the Lenten Moon and considered it the last moon of winter. April: The Pink Moon Flowers begin to appear, including the widespread grass pink or wild ground phlox. Other variations indicate more signs of full spring, such as Sprouting Grass Moon, Egg Moon, and Fish Moon (common among coastal tribes). May: The Flower Moon Flowers come into full bloom and corn is ready to plant. Also called the Corn Planting Moon and the Milk Moon. June: The Strawberry Moon Strawberry-picking season reaches its peak during this time. This is one of the few names that was universal to all Algonquin tribes. July: The Buck Moon Buck deer start growing velvety hair-covered antlers in July. Frequent thunderstorms in the New England area also resulted in the name Thunder Moon. Some tribes also used Hay Moon.

August: The Sturgeon Moon The sturgeon, a large fish common to the Great Lakes and other nearby bodies of water, is most easily caught during this month. The reddish appearance of the moon through the frequent sultry hazes of August also prompted a few tribes to dub it the Red Moon. Other names included the Green Corn Moon and the Grain Moon. September: The Harvest Moon Many of the Native American tribes' staple foods, such as corn, pumpkins, squash, beans, and rice, are ready for gathering at this time. The strong light of the Harvest Moon allowed European farmers to work late into the night to harvest their crops. The Harvest Moon does not always occur in September. Traditionally, the name goes to the full moon closest to the autumn equinox, which falls during October once or twice a decade. Sometimes the September full moon was called the Corn Moon. October: The Hunter's Moon After the fields have been reaped, the leaves begin to fall and the deer are fat and ready for eating. Hunters can ride easily over the fields' stubble, and the fox and other animals are more easily spotted. Some years the Harvest Moon falls in October instead of September.

November: The Beaver Moon At this time of year the beavers are busy preparing for winter, and it's time to set beaver traps and secure a store of warm fur before the swamps freeze over. Some tribes called this the Frosty Moon. December: The Cold Moon Winter takes a firm hold and temperatures plummet at this time. Sometimes this moon is also called the Long Night Moon as the winter nights lengthen and the moon spends more time above the horizon opposite a low sun. The full moon name often used by Christian settlers is the "Moon before Yule". Blue Moon Note that due to the 29-day lunar cycle the exact dates of the full moon move every year. Most seasons have three full moons, but because of the variation some seasons have four full moons. The term "blue moon" was used to identify one of these extra full moons. A mistaken definition in the March 1946 edition of Sky and Telescope magazine claimed the blue moon fell on the second full moon of the calendar month. This mistake caused widespread misunderstanding until it was finally corrected in 1999.

Harvest Moon will shine brightly Monday night | Fox News Harvest Moon will shine brightly Monday night Published September 08, 2014 Facebook 0 Twitter 0 livefyre Email Print A passenger aircraft descends towards Heathrow Airport with a full moon seen behind, in west London, Sept. 8. The September full moon, also known as the Harvest Moon, is the last of this summer's three "supermoons." ( REUTERS/Toby Melville) When you look up at the sky tonight, you will likely catch the full Harvest Moon. At 9:38 p.m. EST, the final of the three back-to-back “supermoons” will light up the sky for the Northern Hemisphere, according to NASA ( via Discovery.com ). While the name associates it with the fall, this Harvest Moon is actually the final full moon of the summer. The last two “supermoons” of the season – one in July and the other in August — fell during the moon’s perigee, which marks when it was closest to the Earth in its orbit. According to NASA , full moons can vary in size due to the oval shape of a moon’s orbit.

The moon follows along an elliptical path around the planet with one side, its perigee, leaning about 31 miles closer than its other side, the apogee. This won’t be the largest of the season’s three supermoons – the full moon from Aug. 10 holds that honor. Nevertheless, the Harvest Moon will be an impressive sight. While it appears during the dog days of summer, the Harvest Moon hints at the coming fall season due to its reddish, pumpkin-like appearance. The distinct coloration is the result of the moon rising just as the sun sets, reports The Huffington Post . Many supermoon watchers believe that the Harvest Moon stays in the night’s sky much longer than other full moons. In reality, the Harvest Moon rises slightly later each night. This in turn provides farmers trying to reap crops well into the evening during the last gasp of late-summer daylight, with some extra light, according to Discovery.com.

Harvest Full Moon Rises Monday in Summer 'Supermoon' Finale Harvest Full Moon Rises Monday in Summer 'Supermoon' Finale by Joe Rao, SPACE.com Skywatching Columnist Pin it Share Editor's Note: Find out how to watch a webcast about the Harvest Moon airing tonight (Sept. 8) will Space.com's latest story - Full Harvest Moon Dominates Night Sky Tonight: Watch It Live The full Harvest Moon will light up the night sky on Monday (Sept. 8), and this year it comes with an extra bounty. September's full moon will cap a trio of back-to-back "supermoons" for the Northern Hemisphere summer, according to NASA. The moon will reach its full phase when it reaches the spot in the sky opposite from the sun. That moment will occur Monday at 9:38 p.m. EDT (0138 GMT). Monday's full moon is the one nearest to the September equinox this year, giving it the moniker of Harvest Moon by the usual definition. Although we associate the Harvest Moon with autumn, this year's version is actually the last full moon of the summer season. The 2014 Harvest Moon comes about as early in the calendar as possible.

However, Harvest Moons can occur as late as Oct. 7. [ Amazing Photos of the 2013 Harvest Moon ] Although on average, an October Harvest Moon happens once about every four years, this figure can be deceptive. The last October Harvest Moon, for example, was in 2009, but the next won't occur until 2017. Conversely, after 2017, we need wait only three years until 2020 for the next October Harvest Moon. A September supermoon This full moon also marks the third in a trilogy of "supermoons" this summer. July and August's full moons both fell during the moon's perigee — when it was at the closest point in its orbit to Earth. While the August supermoon was the closest, this month's full moon also falls during perigee. Many think that the Harvest Moon remains in the night sky longer than any of the other full moons we see during the year, but that is a myth.

The Harvest Moon's claim to fame is that instead of rising its normal average of 50 minutes later each day, it rises only a little later each night, providing farmers with extra moonlit evenings to reap their crops. This unusually small daily lag in the time of moonrise occurs because the moon is traveling along the part of the ecliptic — the apparent path of the sun with respect to Earth's sky — that makes the smallest angle with the eastern horizon as seen from northern latitudes. Through the course of three nights — Sept. 7 to Sept. 9 — the rising of the moon comes just under 38 minutes later each night, based on an average taken from a small sample of North American cities. The night-to-night difference in moonrise times is greatest for the more southerly locations. (Miami, for instance, sees moonrise come an average of 46 minutes later in the three-night sample). Great Harvest Moon of the north The Harvest Moon effect is greater the farther north an observer is located. In contrast, for those living in the Southern Hemisphere, the ecliptic at this time of year appears almost perpendicular (at nearly a right angle) to the eastern horizon.

As such, the difference for the time of moonrise exceeds the average of 50 minutes per night. In Sydney, Australia, for instance, the night-to-night difference amounts to 70 minutes. For those who live near the Arctic Circle, however, the moon does indeed appear to rise about the same time each night around the time of the Harvest Moon. And for those who live even farther to the north, a paradox: The moon appears to rise earlier, not later. In Thule, Greenland (latitude 76.5 degrees north), for example, the times of moonrise on Sept. 7, 8 and 9 will be, respectively, 7:19 p.m., 7:06 p.m. and 6:54 p.m. local time. So from Thule, the moon will seem to rise an average of 13 minutes earliereach night. Editor's Note: If you take an amazing image of the Harvest Moon or any other night sky view that you'd like to share for a possible story or image gallery, please contact managing editor Tariq Malik at spacephotos@space.com . Joe Rao serves as an instructor and guest lecturer at New York's Hayden Planetarium.

He writes about astronomy for Natural History magazine, the Farmer's Almanac and other publications, and he is also an on-camera meteorologist for News 12 Westchester, N.Y.Follow us @Spacedotcom , Facebook and Google+ . Original article on Space.com .

Question: Which type of full moon follows a harvest moon?
Answer: Hunters Moon